At 5-foot-4, Cassey Covington might be the shortest middle blocker in all of the Monterey Bay League. Still, Watsonville High coach Ron Benenvente said it didn't take much to convince the other Gabilan Division coaches to also pick Covington as the best one.

Her play, he said, did all the talking. And on Tuesday, they named her the MBL-G's first-team all-league middle blocker.

"To me it was a no-brainer," Benevente said. "She played against all the top players, obviously, in the Gabilan Division, and she played on their level. She was just as good as anyone in that league."

The Gabilan Division is the more competitive of the MBL's two divisions. The Wildcatz finished 14-11, 5-7 in their first season at that level. Covington, a four-year varsity player who was also a first-team selection last year, was a major reason why.

"With Cassey on the floor, when she was in the back she dug them and when she was in the front she blocked them," Benevente said.

Watsonville, along with Monte Vista Christian, also received second-team selections. Wildcatz junior libero Shailia Cervantes and Mustangs senior middle Sydney Beadle and junior outside Ashley Moore were named to the second team.

Salinas' senior outside Laura Meyenberg took the MBL-G's MVP award.

Pajaro Valley's Erandeni Romero, meanwhile, was named the best libero in the Pacific Division.

"She can run all the way across a football field and dig a ball," said Grizzlies coach Jamie Tsugi. "All the other coaches were like 'I'm so glad she's leaving because she can dig everything.' Nobody passes like her."